By Jen McConnell
jenmcconnell.com
When I’m writing—whether starting something new or deep in the frustrations of revisions—I think about how much easier the business side is: submitting stories to literary magazines, researching publishers, applying for grants, etc.
But then when I’m in the throes of the business side, I lament that I’m not writing.
At least when I’m writing, I feel like I have some control.
On the other hand, once I’ve sent a story out or submitted a grant application, it’s out of my control.
I know it’s a privilege to have this problem, but the balancing act is still tough.
My second book of short stories, Current Disasters, was accepted for publication last summer by Roadside Press. I’m excited to say it will be out in just a few weeks!
I have spent the months in between squarely on the business side of the writing/publishing process.
Because Roadside Press is a small independent press, nearly all of the marketing and promotion falls to the authors.
I have secured blurbs for the book jacket, proofread the manuscript ad nauseum, applied for (and received) a grant from the Greater Columbus Arts Council, created social media posts, redesigned my website, arranged a launch party and readings, and more.
Receiving a grant from GCAC for marketing materials is awesome, but it leads to more work: I designed and printed postcards, submitted the manuscript to professional book reviewers, and created a paid advertising plan for social media. And there’s more to do.
I’ve also been pitching reviewers and literary festivals since last December. It’s paid off: I’ll be at the Ohio Authors Book Fair in May, reading at the Word is Art stage during June’s Columbus Arts Festival, moderating a panel at this July’s Columbus Book Festival, and presenting a workshop and a reading at the Lit Youngstown literary festival in October.
All of this to say that between all these tasks, a full-time corporate job, and my family, there hasn’t been a lot of time to write.
And the grass is always greener: when I’m writing, I’m anxious to be done and send it out. When I’m working on admin tasks, I want to be writing.
I have to remind myself that this ebb and flow is how it goes. And so I make sure to schedule in time to write.
Nothing as structured as a daily word goal or writing morning pages but just blocking out time a couple evenings or weekends a month.
Knowing I have these sessions set aside reassures me that, no matter how busy I am, I have made the time and space to keep moving forward with my fiction.
Balance is a fallacy; it’s more of a see-saw.
I work on the novel I’ve started; I work on my book’s marketing plan; I revise a short story; I send out a piece of flash fiction; I post to social media; I get a rejection; I write the novel.
Bottom line: If one of your goals is to publish your writing, you have to give the business some attention. It’s not always fun or glamorous but it’s important.
(This is a paid guest blog post. Please give the author a follow! https://www.facebook.com/BreathingWordsBlog)
